What does it take to keep the lights on when disaster strikes? For contractor lineman Alex Wakeland, the answer is sacrifice, grit and a paycheck that can hit over $400,000 a year. But behind the money is a reality few see: missed birthdays, a divorce rate over 80% and nights spent waiting out storms in a truck while everyone else evacuates.
In this episode, Alex pulls back the curtain on the hidden life of linemen: the invisible first responders who restore power after hurricanes and wildfires, the toll this work takes on families and the trade-offs between chasing big money and holding onto personal milestones.
He opens up about the strains on his marriage, how he and his wife made sacrifices to raise their kids and why the financial freedom of contract work always comes with a cost. This is a raw look at resilience, family, and the unseen backbone of our modern lives.
If you’ve ever wondered who’s out there fixing the grid in the worst conditions, or what it really costs to earn multiple six-figures as a lineman, this conversation will change the way you see the lights in your home.
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